Machine for making metal wheels.



No. 810,197. PATENTED JAN. 16, 1906. E. EINPELDT. MACHINE FOR MAKINGMETAL WHEELS.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.20,1904.

B SHEETS-$111131 PATENTED JAN. 16, 1906.

B. EINPELDT. MACHINE FOR MAKING METAL WHEELS.

APPLICATION FILED OOT.20,1904.

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APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20,1904.

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MACHINE FOR MAKING METAL WHEELS. APPLICATION FILED our. 20.1904.

PATENTED JAN. 16, 1906.

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E. BINFELDT. MACHINE FOR MAKING METAL WHEELS.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT.20,1904.

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E. BINFELDT. MACHINE FOR MAKING METAL WHEELS.

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UNITED sTAT ns PATENT orrron.

METAL WHEEL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF IOWA.

MACHINE FOR MAKING METAL WHEELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 16, 1906.

Application filed October 20, 1904. Serial No. 229,222.

To (7/7/7 whom: it puny cmwern:

Be it known that I, EMIL EINFELDT, of Davenport, county of Scott, andState of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machinesfor Making Metal Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for use in the manufacture of metalwheels, and is designed more particularly for fastening the spokes tothe hub and rim. In certain machines for this purpose the shoulders onthe spoke at the inner side of the rim or outer side of the hub areformed by upsetting the spoke endwise at these points, which actionresults in the shortening of the spoke, and by reason of the fact thatthe spokes frequently vary in diameter and structure the shortening isunequal, so that the circular form of the rim is destroyed, or if thespokes are incidentally placed under tension, as by cooling after theyare fastened in hot, the tension is unequal. I

The aim of the present invention is to overcome these objections; andthe invention consists in mechanism of improved form and constructionacting to secure the spoke to the hub and rim without varying the lengthof the spoke between these members.

The machine embodying the present in vention is designed with specialreference to the manufacture of staggered wheels wherein the spokes arefastened to the hub in two rows or ranks and are secured to the rimeither in a single line or in two lines approaching each other more orless. In the operation ofthe machine for the production of wheels ofthis type the spokes of one rank after their ends have been previouslyheated are first secured in place in succession, and after they havecooled, and consequently contracted and have been thus placed undertension, the spokes of the other rank are secured in place, the resultbeing that a wheel is produced in which all the spokes are under auniform tension.

The machine is adapted to operate on a closed rim and spokes which havehad previously formed on them each a shoulder adapted to bear againstthe outer side of the hub, and the mechanism acts to form heads on theopposite ends of the spoke at the inside of the hub and outside of therim, respectively, and a shoulder at the inner face of the rim, whichshoulder is formed by scraping up the outer skin or exterior portion ofthe spoke at this point and accumulating it against the rim, so that inthe fastening operation there will be no shortening of the spoke betweenthe hub and the rim.

While the machine illustrated and described is, as shown, adapted formanufacturing staggered wheels, it may by slight adjustment of the partsbe adapted for producing a straight wheel-that is, a wheel in which theinner ends of the spokes are secured in a single line to the hub and theouter ends in a like manner to the rim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of myimproved machine. Fig. 1 is a plan view of the rim which is employed inmaking a wheel in my improved machine. Fig. 1 is an elevation of thespoke used, showing the relation of the hub, rim, and spoke-clamps. Fig.2 is a top plan view of the machine with certain parts in section andother parts removed. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional elevationon the line on m of Figs. 1 and 2 as viewed in the direction of thearrows cutting said line. Fig. 3 is a horizontal-section on the line 2)v of Fig. 3, showing the form of the grasping-surfaces by which theshoulder at the inner face of the rim is formed. Fig. 4 is a verticaltransverse section on the line 16 1c of Figs. 1 and 2 as viewed in thedirection of the arrows cutting said line. Fig. 5 is a similar view onthe line 8 s of Figs. 1 and 2 looking in the direction of the arrows onsaid line. Fig. 6 is a similar view on the line p p of Fig. I looking inthe direction of the arrows on said line. Fig. 7 is a verticallongitudinal sectional view through a portion of the machine, on anenlarged scale, showing the spoke-clamps, hub-support, the header forthe inner end of the spoke, and its operating mechanism. Fig. 8 is asimilar view showing the rim-rest, the header for the outer end of thespoke, and its operating mechanism. Fig. 8 is a horizontal trans versesection on the line i t of Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional planView, on an en larged scale, on the line 1 q of Fig. 1. Fig. 10 is aplan view of the base-plate, the several operating-cylinders for thevarious operating mechanisms, and their controlling valves. Fig. 10' isa vertical transverse section on the line :1: 9c of the precedingfigure. Fig. 11 is a transverse vertical sectional elevation on the,line 0 0 of Fig. 10.

In the drawings, 1 represents a base-plate from which there rises atopposite ends standards 2 and 3, giving support to two horizontallongitudinally-extending parallel frame-bars 4, firmly secured at theirends to the standards, which parts constitute a rigid frame on which thevarious operative mechanisms are supported.

The main operating parts of the machine comprise a hub-support 5, bywhich the hub is sustained on, end and clamped by a clam ing-head 6; arim-support 7, by which t e rim is sustained at the point where thespokefastening means act; a spoke-clamp 8, adapted to grasp the spokenear the inner face of the rim; a second spoke-clamp 9, adapted to graspthe spoke adjacent the outer side of the hub; a heading device 10,adapted to act on the end of the spoke within the hub and form a headthereon, and a second heading device 11, adapted to act on the outer endof the spoke and form a head thereon, thisheading device 11, therim-support, and the spoke-clamp 8 being so formed and operated, as willbe more fully described hereinafter, that when the heading device 11advances the rim and spoke will be pushed endwise relative to the clamp,resulting in the formation of a scraped -up shoulder on the spoke at theinner face of the rim. For sake of clearness I have in the specificationdesig nated the heading device 10, which acts on the end of the spokewithin the hub, the hub-header, and I have designated the heading device11, which acts on the spoke outside the rim, the "rim-header. Theseseveral mechanisms referred to are adapted to operate on a spoke whichhas had previously formed on it near its inner end a shoulder A, Fig. 1which abuts against the outer face of the hub, and which spoke has itsouter end thickened, as at B, and a rim C, with its ends closed, asshown in Fig. l and when these parts are to be fastened together theclamps 9 grasp the spoke near the hub and abut against the outer side ofthe shoulder A, which shoulder rests against the outerside of the hub,while the clamps 8 grasp the spoke at the thickened portion B a slightdistance from the inner face of the rim, the pressure of the clampsbeing such that while holding the spoke firmly as far as any lateralmotion is concerned they will permit an endwise movement of the same inorder to effect the scraping up of the thickened portion B to form theshoulder as the inner face of the rim. In'the operation of thesemechanisms the hubheader first advances and upsets the end of the spokewithin the hub and immediately retreats, the spoke and hub during theseoperations being firmly held against endwise motion in the direction inwhich the hubheader acts by means of the clamps 9, against which theshoulderA abuts. The rim-header '11 now advances in the oppositedirection and upsets the outer end of the spoke to form a head,simultaneously with which action the rim, hub, and spoke are pushedendwise at less speed than the rim-header and with relation to theclamps, with the result that the thickened portion of the spoke is tivemechanism, and which frame is also mov' able horizontally to permit thehub and the spoke, which has been secured to it by the hub-header to beshifted with relation to the clamps in the action of scraping up theshoulder at the rim end of the spoke. The vertical movement of thisframe is effected through the instrumentality of a cylinder 13, having apiston 14 adapted to be operated by fluid under pressurein the mannerdescribed later on. The piston is provided with a pistonrod 14 carryinga cross-head 15, to the op posite ends of which are jointed the upperends of two links 16, whose lower ends are jointed to arms 17 ,fiXed toa horizontal trans verse rock-shaft 18, mounted in bearings in the upperends of posts 19, rising from the base-plate. The arms 17 have jointedto them and between their ends the lower ends of two vertical rods 20,which extend upwardly through guideways 20*" on the frame and at theouter opposite sides of the frame 12, to which they are jointed, as at20 at a point near its inner end, where the hub is sustained. By meansof these connections when the piston 14 rises the arms 17 will beelevated, and through the medium of the connecting-rods 20 the inner endof the hub frame 12 will be raised, and when the piston moves downwardlya reverse movement of the parts takes place, and the hub-frame will belowered. In order that'the opposite end of the hub-frame may partake oflike movements and simultaneously with those just described, the outerend of this frame has ointed to it the upper ends of two vertical bars21, each having a turnbuckle 22 to permit longitudinal adjustment. Thelower ends of these bars are pivoted to the outer ends of arms 23,mounted at their inner ends on a transverse rock-shaft 24, sustained inbearings in the upper ends of standards 25, extending from thebase-plate. This rockshaft has-connected with it two arms 26, arrangedat right angles to arms 23, to the ends of which are connected twohorizontal links 26 extending longitudinally and jointed at theiropposite ends to arms 27 on the rockshaft 18. As a result of theseconnections the movement of the arms 17 by the piston ITO dinal bolts 12pro will rock shaft 18, which action will vibrate arms 27, and this willthrough the medium of the horizontal links 26 rock the shaft 24, whichaction will in turn vibrate arms 23 and raise or lower the verticallinks 21, thereby raising or lowering the outer end of the hubsupportingframe 12. Owing to the charac ter and arrangement of these connections,the frame 12 will be moved bodily up and down and at all times duringsuch movements will preserve a horizontal position.

The hubsupporting frame 12 is guided at its outer end and prevented fromshifting laterally by means of a lug or block 28, fixed thereto andmounted to slide vertically in a vertical guideway 29, formed in theface of a collar or sleeve 30, fixed to and surrounding a verticalcolumn 31, rising from the end standard 2 of the main frame Thisguideway is opened at its front, so that the guidinglug may move freelytherein when the frame 12 is shifted horizontally during the operationof scraping up the shoulder near the outer end of the spoke. The frame12 is provided at its inner end with a vertical socket to receive thehub on end and allow it to be shifted around therein so as to bring thenext hole in position for fastening the next spoke. This socket isformed in an extension 12 of the frame proper, which extension isprovided with. openings or holes extending longitudinally therethroughand adapted to receive longitu- 'ecting from the end of the frameproper, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the extensionbeing confinedon these plates by nuts 12. The purpose of this separable extension isto admit of the longitudinal adjustment of the hub-holder socket withreference to the frame 12 and other parts of the machine to meet thevarying conditions encountered in practice as regards the size of thewheel and spokes, &c. The adjustment of this extension is effected byinserting between the adjacent ends of the same and the frame 12 washers12 of different thickness.

The hub held in frame 12 is adapted to be clamped and held firmly by theclamping head 6, before alluded to, which is mounted in and sustained bythe overhanging end of an arm 32, extending upward from the outer end ofthe frame 12 and forming a continuation thereof. This clamping-headisconical in form and mounted on the lower end of a vertical slide 34,guided in the end of arm 32 and raised and lowered manually by ahandlever 35 to enter it in the upper end of the hub, which head isoperated automatically to firmly clamp the hub when the frame descendsto bring the parts of the wheel into active relation to the operatingmechanism. This automatic clamping operation is effected by links 36 and37, connecting the slide with a fixed arm 38, extending up wardly andforwardly from the upper end of the column 31. The clamping mechanism isidentical in operation and construction to that described in .LettersPatent of the United States, No. 640,548, issued to me January 2, 1900,to which reference may be had for a more detailed description than ishere given. WVhen the hub-holding frame is lowered by the mechanismdescribed, the end of the spoke projecting therein is brought oppositethe hub-header 10, so that when the hub-header is advanced it will upsetthe spoke within the hub. This header is in the form of a tool or dieprojecting upward from a horizontal slide and is advanced to perform theheading operation by means of a piston 40, Fig. 1, in a cylinder 41,resting on the bedplate and adapted to be operated by fluid underpressure, which piston is provided with a rod 42, carrying a head 43,sliding in a vertical guideway in the inner face of standard 2 andconnected by a link 44 with the slide 39, the arrangement being suchthat when the piston rises it will act, through the link, to

ush the slide in the direction of the arrow,

ig. 7, and advance the header to its work, and when the piston descendsthe slide will be positively retracted in the opposite direction and theheader withdrawn. The rise of the piston is effected by admission of airunder pressure below the piston, While its descent is effected by aspring 45, Fig. 1, connected with the piston and with, the frame of themachine and acting when the cylinder is opened to the exhaust topositively draw the piston downwardly. The control of fluid underpressure to and its exhaust from the cylinder is effected by valvemechanism described later on.

The support 7 for the rim at the point where the rim-header acts to headthe outer end of the spoke comprises two fingers 7 as shown articularlyin Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 8, which ingers-are sustained adjacent to and onopposite sides of the rim-header on a sliding cap D. These fingers areeach formed with a vertical shoulder or rest 7 adapted to bear againstthe outer face of the rim, and a horizontal forwardly-extendingsupportingsurface 7, on which the lower edge of the rim rests when thehub-holding frame is lowered to bring the parts of the wheel in positionto be acted on. At its diametrically opposite side the rim is adapted torest on a horizontal longitudinal supporting-roller 46, mounted on thehub-frame 12, while at inter mediate points in its circumference the rimis adapted to rest on horizontal supportingrollers 47 and 48, mountedadjustably on arms 49 and 50, extending laterally outward from theopposite sides of the extension 12 of the hub-frame, which severalsupportingrollers when the hub-frame is lifted, as shown in Fig. 1,permit the rim to be readily turned around to bring the next hole inposition for the insertion of another spoke. The lateral arms 49 and 50are formed, near their points of attachment with the extension, with anoffset or cranked portion 49 and they are so secured to the extensionthat they may be adjusted around their longitudinal axes, whichadjustment will result in the raising or lowering of rollers.

When the parts are lowered, as'shown in Fig. 7, and the rim rests on thefingers 7 it is firmly held in this position by means of a clamping-arm51, pivoted at its upper end to the overhanging arm 32, whence itextends obliquely downward to the upper edge of the rim, at which pointit is recessed to form a vertical shoulder or abutment 53, engaging theinner face of the rim, and a horizontal finger 53 resting on the upperedge of the rim. The pivotal connection of the arm will allow it to beswung upward to disengage and release the rim when the latter is to beshifted around in position.

With the parts in the position described, with the rim supported byfingers 7, the spoke will extendwithin clamps 8 and 9,with its outer.

end opposite the rim-header 11 ready to be acted upon by the advance ofthis header. The rim-header consists of a horizontal header tool or diecarried on the end of a horizontal slide-bar 55, mounted to slide backand forth in a fixed guide-frame 56, fixed to the two frame-bars 4:. Itis actuated by means of a piston 57 in a cylinder 58 on the base-plateof the machine, which piston is provided with a vertical piston-rod 59,carrying at its upper end a verticallymovable head 60, sliding invertical guideways in the standard 3. The head is connected with thesliding bar by means of a link 61, the construction being such that whenthe piston rises on the admission of fluid under pressure beneath it thesliding bar will be advanced on its guiding-frame and will advance theheading-tool to its work, the retraction of the heading-tool beingpositively effected by spring 62, fixed to the piston and to thebase-plate of the machine, which spring when the cylinder is opened tothe exhaust, as will be more fully described later, will pull the pistondownwardly.

As before stated, when the rim-header advances to its work andsimultaneous with its upsetting action on the spoke end the spoke ismoved endwise in the clamps, together with the rim and hub, this endwisemovement of the spoke with reference to the clamp (which grasps it nearthe rim) resulting in the scraping or piling up of the outer skin orthickened portion of the spoke to form the shoulder at this point. If inthese actions the spoke is moved. endwise at the same speed of therim-header, the latter will have no effect on the spoke end. Hence it isnecessary that the rim-header move faster than the spoke, so as toovertake it, as it were, and upset the end of the spoke while the latteris moving through the clamps. It has been found that the relativemovement of two should'be such that the rim-header will move 'twice asfast as the rim and the spoke, and the mechanism for accomplishing thisaction, now to be described, is formed to give this result.

As shown in Fig. 8, the rim-supporting fingers 7 are, as before stated,carried on the.

end of the horizontal sliding cap-plate D, which is mounted inguidewaysin the upper edges of a horizontal frame 64, fixed to andsustained by the two parallel frame-bars. This cap-plate has formed onits top two vertical ribs 65, containing each a number of holes for thepurpose of forming an adjustable connection therewith of a link 66,which link has a hole in its end .to receive a pivot-pin 67, which mayenter either of the ioles in the cap-plate. The opposite end of the linkis jointed, as at 67*, to a vertical pend ent lever 68 at a pointbetween the ends of said lever, the latter being pivoted at its upperend, as at 68", between the upper ends of two extensions 69, rising fromthe standard 3. The lower end of the pendent leveris connected, by meansof two horizontal links 70, with lateral studs 75, projecting outwardfrom the sides of the header-bar 55 at the end of the same. As a resultof these connecting means, when the header-bar is advanced to cause theheader to act on the spoke it will pull the lower end of the pendentlever forward, which action will through the medium of link 66 advancethe cap-plate D and the rim-supports carried thereby, but owing to thefact that the connection of the cap-plate with the pendent lever isnearer its pivotal point the cap-plate will move at less speed than theheader, the result being that while the header is making its full strokethe rim-support will be moved but one-half the distance. This reducedmotion of the rim-support is positively transmitted to the hub-holderframe 12 (in order that the hub, which has already been connected'with.the inner end of the spoke, may go back with the spoke) by means of twoconnecting-rods 72 and 73, Figs. 1, 2, and 9, jointed at their ends,respectively, to the sides of the frame 12 and to the sides of thecap-plate.

In order that the relative movements of the rim-support and rim-headermay be varied, I so connect the end of the link 66 with the pendentlever that its point of attachment may be adjusted to and from the pivot68 of the lever. This attachment is shown in Figs. 1, 8, and 8 where itwill be seen that the lever 68 is provided in opposite sides withvertical guiding grooves, in which extend ribs 68 on two cheek-plates68*, applied to the opposite sides of the lever and connected therewithby through-bolts 68", by which the plates may be adjusted along thelever and held in the desired position. These cheek- IIO faces withgrasping-dies, each containing a plates are each provided with aforwardly extending ear, between which the end of the link is pivoted bypivot-pin 67 The spoke-clamps 8 and 9, before alluded to, are identicalin form and construction, except as to the character of thegrasping-surfaces. Those of clamp 9 serve merely to grasp the spokeadjacent the shoulder at the outside of the hub, while those of theother clamp act when the spoke is moved endwise through it to form thescraped-up shoulder. The clamping device 8 comprises, as shown moreparticularly in Figs. 1 and 3, two vertical jaws 8 and 8 mounted betweentheir ends on horizontal sleeves 8", which sleeves are mounted looselyto rock on the two framebars and within hearings in the upper ends oftwo standards 74 and 74*, extending upward from the bed-plate. The endsof the jaws above the sleeves are provided in their inner horizontalsemicircular groove 8 to conjointly embrace the spoke, which grooves areenlarged at the end adjacent the rim of the wheel to form a socket 8,and this socket when the spoke is moved endwise receives and gives formto the scraped-up material and accumulates it against the inner face ofthe rim in the form of a shoulder. The jaws of the clamp are operated toclose on the spoke by means of a horizontal longitudinally-extendin'grocking member 76, mounted in bearings in the two standards 74 and 7 4respectively. This rocking member is formed at diametrically oppositepoints with two cam-surfaces 76 and 76 adapted when the member is rockedin the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3 to engage friction-rollers 8 and8 mounted, respectively, on the lower ends of the vertical jaws, whichcam-surfaces are of such form that when they engage the rollers theywill act to separate the lower ends of the jaws, and thus close theirupper ends on the spoke. On the movement of the cams of the rockingmember in the opposite direction the aws are automatically opened bymeans of a horizontal spring 8 connected to them below their axes andtending to draw them together at this point. The rocking of the cammember to close the jaws is effected by the rise of a piston 78 in acylinder 79, resting on the baseplate, when pressure is admitted beneaththe piston. The piston is provided with a jointed piston-rod 80, pivotedat the upper end between ears 76", projecting from the side of therocking member, by which means this member will be rocked, as indicatedby the arrow, when the piston rises. \Vhen the cylinder is opened to exhaust, the cam member will be returned to its former position and thepiston lowered by means of a spring 81, Fig. 1, connected with the endof the cam member at its side and with the bed-plate of the machine. The1 other spoke-clamp 9 comprises two vertical mounted on the sleeves 8and formed in their upper ends with grooved spoke 'clamping dies 9 whichgrasp the spoke just back of .the shoulder at the outer side of the hub,so as to prevent the spoke from moving endwise while the hub-header isacting on the end of the spoke within the hub. The jaws of this clampare operated simultaneously with the operation of the other clamp and bythe rocking cam member 76, which latter is extended between the lowerends of the jaws 9 and 9 and engage friction-rollers thereon.

The control of fluid under pressure to and its exhaust from the severalactuating-cylinders is effected by controlling-valves, one for eachcylinder, which valves are operated by a longitudinallyextendingrockshaft 82, mounted on the base-plate at the rear side of the machine,as shown in Fig. 10, which shaft is depressed by a footlever 83,extending at the front of the machine and elevated when released by areturning-spring 84, connected with the lever and with the frame of thema chine at a point above the same. The con trolling-valve for cylinder13 is indicated at 13, the valve for cylinder 79 at 79 the valve forcylinder 41 at 41 and the valve for cylinder 58 at 58. All of thesevalves, with the exception of that for controlling the operation of thehub-holding frame, are of the piston type, as shown in Figs. 3 and 10,and they are identical in form and operation except that the valve 41 isadapted to be automatically tripped on the down motion of the foot-leverto effect the exhaust of cylinder 41, so that the hub-header may be retracted immediately after it has acted to upset the end of the spoke inthe hub. For this purpose valve 41 is provided with a trippingmechanism, as shown in Fig. 10. The other valves 79 and 58'- areoperated to exhaust their respective cylinders by the upward movement ofthe foot-lever. Referring to Fig. 10 it will be seen that the valve isin the form of two connected pistons 41 and 41, the latter being ofgreater diameter than the former and connected together by a reducedneck 41 These connected pistons are mounted to reciprocate in acylindrical valve-casing 41 connected with the source of pressure byport 41 with the cylinder by port 41, and with the exhaust by port 41the relation and extent of movement of the parts being such that thelarger piston will be at all times subject to the pressure, whichpressure will tend to move the piston to the position shown, in whichposition of the parts pressure to the cylinder is cut oil by the smallpiston and the cylinder opened to the exhaust. When the pistons moveforward from this position, they first close the exhaust-port and thenestablish communication of the pressure with the interior of thecylinder through the annular space surrounding the neck. In

jaws 9" and 9 the operation of this valve by the shaft 82 when thefoot-lever is depressed the two connected pistons will be moved forwardagainst the pressure acting on the larger one and will admit pressure tothe actuatingcylinder, which communication will continue until apredetermined point in the movement of the parts is reached, whereuponthe valve piston will be automatically released and the pressure actingon the larger of the two pistons will immediately return the parts totheir former positions, thereby cutting off pressure to theactuating-cylinder and opening the latter to the exhaust. This automaticrelease of the valve-pistons is effected by the mechanism shown in Fig.10*, where it will be seen that the stem 41 of the pistonvalves isconnected, by means of a link 41 with the outer end of an arm 41 havingits inner end mounted loosely on the rock-shaft 82. Adjacent to this armthere is fastened to the rock-shaft a shorter arm 82, provided with ashoulder 82', which is adapted to en gage the rear end of a dog 82pivoted between its ends on arm il and acted on by a spring 82, whichspring tends to hold the dog in position to be engaged by the shoulder,in which position of the parts the motion of the fixed arm 82 will beimparted to the movable arm and by it to the valve-piston. After theparts thus locked have moved a predetermined distance the dog is trippedbythe engagement of its end with a vertical finger 82 fixed to thebase-plate of the machine, the engagement with this finger acting torock the dog on its axis, and thereby disengage its end from thevertical shoulder on the fixed arm, and the parts being thus releasedthe pressure on the larger piston will quickly retract the connectedpistons and will cut off pressure to the cylinder and open the same tothe exhaust, the fixed arm 82 in the meantime continuing its movement asthe foot-lever is further depressed.

The valve 79 embodies, as in that just de scribed, two connected pistonsof different diameters, and they are connected, by means of a link 7 9with an arm 7 9 on the rockshaft. In like manner valve 58 comprises twoconnected pistons of different diameters connected, by means of a link58", with an arm 58 onv the rock-shaft. The pistons of these valves andthe ports controlled by them are of such form and relation that on thedownstroke of the foot-lever they will act to admit pressure to theirrespective cylinders at the proper time to cause them to act in theproper sequence, and on the return of the lever they will act to cut offthis pressure and open the cylinders to the exhaust in like seuence.These several piston valves act, t erefore, in the following order: Onthe depression of the foot-lever and after the parts of the wheel havebeen first lowered into active'relation t0 the operating mechanism bythe operation of valve 13 pressure is admitted to cylinder 79 to closethe clamps, then to cylinder 41 to operate the hub-header, from which itis next automatically cut off and the cylinder exhausted to retract thehub-header, then to cylinder 58 to operate the rim-header. On the riseof the foot-lever pressure is first cut off from the cylinder 58 andthis cylinder opened to the exhaust, and then cylinder 79 will beexhausted to open the clamps. The first action of the footlever on itsdepression lowers the hub-supporting frame by actuatin the three-wayvalve 13", Fig. 11. This vaTve is cylindrical in cross-section andmounted in a casing 13 containing a passage 13 connected with the sourceof pressure, a passage 13", leading to the cylinder, and anexhaust-passage 13 The valve is formed with a port 13 which when turnedin the position shown will admit pressure to the cylinder and cause thepiston of the actuatingcylinder to rise, and when the valve is turned inits other position it will cut off the pressure to theactuating-cylinder and open the same to the exhaust. The valve isprovided with an arm 13 connected by link 13 with a lever 13 pivoted atits upper end, as at 13 to the frame of the machine, which lever isprovided with a friction-roller engaged by an arm 82, fixed on therock-shaft 82. This arm has an elevated surface 82, which when inengagement with the.

roller holds the parts of the valve in such position that the pressureis admitted to the cylinder 13 and its piston held elevated. This is theposition of the parts when the foot-lever is in its raised position andbefore being actuated On the depression of the foot-lever the arm 82 ismoved downward and the elevated surface 82 is carried free of theroller, which will permit a spring 13 on the link 13 to move the latterto the right and turn the valve so as to cut off the pressure to thecylinder and open it to the exhaust, thus permitting its piston todescend.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The parts being in theposition shown in Fig. 1, with valve 13 adjusted to admit pressure tocylinder 13 and the other valves adjusted to open their respectivecylinders to the exhaust, the hub-holding frame will be elevated andbe'sustained at an inclination downward,

the clamps will be opened, the hub-header retracted, and the rim-headerand rim-support also retracted. Ahub,a closed rim,and a shouldered spokewith its rim end thickened being provided and the ends of the spokeheated, the hub is first set on end in the hub-socket and the conicalhead adjusted in its upper end. The rim is then placed on theroller-supports and the clamping-arm 51 adjusted so as to bear at theinner face of the rim, and finally the heated spoke has its outer endpassed through a hole in the rim and then moved backward and its innerend passed through IIS one of the holes of the lower rank in the hub andthe previously-formed shoulder on the spoke set against the outer faceof the hub. Foot-lever 83 is now depressed, the first part of the strokereleasing the valve 13*, and this being thrown by its actuating-springto a position to exhaust the cylinder the piston of the cylinder willdescend by weight of the frame, and the parts of the wheel supportedthereby will be lowered into active relation to the operatingmechanisms, the descent of this frame causing the clamping-head tofirmly press on the upper end of the hub, and when the parts are finallyat rest the spoke will extend horizontally within the clamps, the loweredge of the rim will rest upon the supportingiingers 7 the inner end ofthe spoke will be opposite the hub-header, its outer end will beopposite the rim-header, and the hub will stand at an inclination tothespoke, which is its relation in a staggered wheel. A'further downwardmovement of the foot lever advances the piston-valve 79 so as to out offthe exhaust and admit pressure to the actuating-cylinder '79, therebycausing its piston to rise and to rock the cam member and close theclamps on the spokes. On the continued depression of the foot-levervalve 41? will. be moved to position to admit pressure to its cylinder,and the piston rising the hub-header will be advanced and will upset theend of the spoke within the hub, which action will be immediatelyfollowed by the automatic tripping of valve 41 and the exhaust of itscylinder, whereby the header will be positively retracted. The spoke isnow secured to the hub. The further downward movement of the foot leverwill move valve 58 to position to admit pressure to cylinder 58, whichaction will result in the simultaneous advance of the rim-header andrim-support and also the bodily movement of the hub and connected spoketo the left, Fig. 1, and these movements will result in the heading ofthe outer end of the spoke and the formation of the scrapedup shoulderat the inner face of the rim. The foot-lever has now completed itsdownstroke, and the spoke has been secured to the hub and rim. On theupward stroke of the foot-lever the first action results in the cuttingoff of pressure to cylinder 58 and its opening to the exhaust, whichwill in turn result in the retraction of the rim-header and rim-supportand the shifting of the parts of the wheel horizontally again to theirfor mer position. The second part of the upstroke of the foot-lever willdraw valve 79 to position to cut off pressure to cylinder 79 and openthe same to the exhaust, resulting in the opening of the spoke-clamps,while the final part of the upstroke of the foot-lever will turn valve13 so as to admit pressure to cylinder 13, and thereby cause thehub-holding frame and the connected parts of the Wheel sustained therebyto be elevated and released. The hub and rim connected by the spoke justfastened is now shifted around on the roller-supports to bring the nexthole in the hub in the lower rank in position for another spoke, whichis set in place with its outer end extending through the next alternatehole in the rim and its inner end through the next hole in thelower rankin the hub. The foot-lever is now again depressed, resulting in theoperations described and the attachment of the second spoke, and theseoperations are repeated until all of the spokes of one rank have beensecured in succession entirely around the wheel. The partly-completedwheel is now removed from the machine, and it is turned side for sideand again set in place in the machine inreverse position, time beinggiven to permit the spokes to cool sufficiently to place them undertension. This cooling and contraction of the spokes will act to draw thehub in the direct-ion of its longitudinal axis, and with references tothe rim, a distance which in practice has been found to be twice thatwhich the hub will be drawn back when the second rank of spokes havebeen secured and have cooled. The machine is now operated to secure thesecond rank of spokesin place in a manner similar to the first, theouter ends of the spokes being fastened, respectively, in the holes leftbetween those first secured. After this operation the wheel iscompleted, and on being released and allowed to cool the contraction ofthe rank last secured will act to draw the hub back, thereby bringingthe parts of the wheel to their proper relative positions and placingall of the spokes under a uniform and strong tension.

It will be observed that when the partlycompleted wheel is removed fromthe machine after the first rank of spokes have been secured the hub isfree to move relatively to the rim when the spokes contract, and in thisway the hub will give to the strain exerted by these contracting spokes,the result being that the tension of the spokes is slight. lVhen theother rank has been secured, their con traction, due to cooling, willmeet with greater resistance, and a free movement of the hub will not bepermitted; but the movement will be sufficient only to distribute thestrain last exerted evenly among all of the spokes. In other Words, thestrain exerted by the rank last secured will act until balanced by thetension which they place on the rank first secured.

In order that the machine may be adapted for making straight wheels inwhich the spokes are secured in a single line around the hub at a pointopposite the center of the rim and in which the axis of the hub willstand at right angles to the general plane of the wheel, I provide forso adjusting the hub-holding frame 12 that it will support the parts ofthe wheel in these relations and present them so to the action of theoperative parts of the machine. The means for effecting this adj ustmentare shown in Fig. 1, where it will be seen that the vertical bars 21,which move and sustain the outer end of the hub-frame, are provided withthe turnbuckles 22, before alluded to. The opposite end of the frame isadapted to be adjusted by shifting the head 15 along the piston-rod,which latter is screwthreaded and screwed into the head. By this meansthe hub-holding frame may be set at a truly horizontal position orotherwise adjusted to meet the conditions encountered.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a machine formaking metal wheels the combination with the spoke-fastening means, of ahub-support adapted to sustain the hub on end, and cranked armsprojecting laterally from'said hub-support and adjustable around theirlongitudinal axes and adapted to sustain the rim; whereby the rimsupportis adjustable vertically with reference to the hub-support.

2. In a machine for making metal wheels and in combination with spokefastening means, a flat frame, means for moving said frame bodilyrelatively to the spoke-fastening means and in the direction of the axisof the hub, an extension on the end of said frame adjustable in thedirection. of the axis of the spoke and adapted to give support to thehub, and arms-extending laterally from said extension and adapted tosupport the rim.

3. In a machine for making metal wheels, the combination of a supportfor the hub and rim, movable bodily in the direction of the longitudinalaxis of the .spoke, mechanism for fastening the inner end of the spoketo the hub, mechanism for fastening the outer end of the spoke to therim, said latter mechanism comprising a spokeclamp and a header movablerelatively to the clamp toward the hub, and operative connectionsbetween said header and the hub and rim-support whereby when the headeradvances to perform its functions it will move the hub and rim-supportin the direction of the longitudinal axis of the spoke.

4. In a machine for making metal wheels, the combination of a supportfor the rim adapted to allow the rim to move in the direction of theaxis of the spoke, means for sus taining the spoke in operative relationto the rim, mechanism for fastening the spoke to the rim, a rest adaptedto bear against the outer face of the rim and movable in the directionof the longitudinal axis of the spoke, and connections between the restand spokefastening means, constructed to advance the rest and rim, andmaintain the rest in contact with the advancing rim while the spoke isbeing fastened to the rim.

5. In a machine for making metal wheels,

the combination with a support for the rim adapted to allow the rim tomove in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the spoke, of meansfor fixedly sustaining the spoke in relation to the rim to be fastenedthereto, a heading device for the outer end of the spoke adapted whenadvanced to form a head thereon, a rest in position to bear against theouter face of the rim. while the head is being formed and movable in thedirection of the axis of the spoke, and means controlled by the advanceof the heading device for moving said rest relatively to the header andin the direc tion of the axis of the spoke.

6. In a machine for making metal wheels, the combination with means forsustaining the rim in such manner that it may move bodily in thedirection of the axis of the spoke, of means for sustaining the spoke inoperative relation thereto, a heading device adapted when advanced toform a head on the outer end of the spoke, means for advancing saidheading device, a rest in position to bear on the outer side of the rimadjacent the heading device, and means for moving said restsimultaneously with the heading device, in the direction of the same,but at less speed.

7. In a machine for making metal wheels, the combination of a supportfor the rim and hub adapted to allow the rim to move in the direction ofthe axis of the spoke, means for fixedly sustaining the spoke inoperative relation to the hub and rim, means for fastening the spoke tothe hub, a header adapted when advanced to form a head on the outer endof the spoke, a rest in position to bear against the outer face of therim while the head is being formed, and means controlled by the movementof the header for moving the rest in the direction of the spoke-axis andrelatively to the header in the direction of its heading movement.

8. In a machine for making metal wheels, the combination of a supportfor the rim and hub movable in the direction of the axis of the spoke,means for sustaining the spoke in operative relation to the hub and rim,means for fastening the spoke to the hub, a header adapted when advancedto form a head on the outer end of the spoke, a rest in position to bearagainst the outer face of the rim, means controlled by the movement ofthe header for moving the rest in the direction of the spoke-axis, andoperative connections between said rest and the supporting device,adapted to move the support in the same di rection as that imparted tothe rest.

9. In a machine for making metal wheels, the combination of ahub-support adapted to sustain the hub on end and movable transverselyof its longitudinal axis, means for supporting the rim in operativerelation thereto, means for sustaining the spoke in operative relationto said hub and rim, means for fas tening the inner end of the spoke to.the hub, a

header adapted by its advance to head the outer end of the spoke, a restin position to bear against the outer face of the rim, and movable inthe direction of the aXis of the spoke, means for moving said rest, andoperative connections between the rest and the hubsupport, adapted tomove the support in the same direction as that imparted to the rest.

10. In a machine for making metal wheels, the combination with aspoke-clamp adapted to grasp the spoke adjacent the inner face of therim and formed to permit the spoke to be moved endwise relatively, asupporting device for the hub and rim adapted to hold said parts inoperative relation to the spoke and movable in the direction of the axisof the spoke, means for fastening the inner end of the spoke to the hub,a heading device adapted when advanced to upset the outer end of thespoke, a rest in position to bear against the outer face of the rim,means for'moving said rest simultaneously with, in the same directionof, but at less speed than the heading device, and means for moving thesupport- .ing device simultaneously with and at the same speed of therest.

11. In a machine for making metal wheels, the combination of a supportfor the rim, means for sustaining the spoke, a clamp adapted to graspthe spoke near the inner face of the rim, means for moving the spoke andrim relatively to said clamp in the direction of the axis of the spoke,and an abutment independent of the clamp and adapted to bear firmlyagainst the inner face of the rim as'the latter approaches the clamp.

12. In a machine for making metal wheels, the combination of means forsupporting the rim so that it may be moved in the direction of the axisof the spoke, means for sustaining the spoke in operative relation tothe same, a heading device adapted by its advance to upset the outer endof the spoke, a rest in position to bear against the outer face of therim and movable in the direction of the axis of the spoke, and anabutment in position to bear against the inner face of the rim andmovable with the rest.

13. In a machine for making metal wheels, the combination with a supportfor the hub adapted to sustain the same on end, a relatively fixed armabove the support, hubclamping mechanism sustained by the arm, means forsupporting the. rim on edge around the hub, an arm mounted on thefirst-named arm and formed with an abutment to bear against the innerface of the rim, means for sustaining the spoke in operative relation tothe rim and hub, and means for fastening the spoke to the rim and hub.

14. In a machine for making metal wheels, the combination of means forsupporting the rim and spoke in operative relations to be f astenedtogether, mechanism for fastening the spoke to the rim, a sustainingdevice on I vertically, means which the lower edge of the rim is adaptedto rest, and a finger adapted to bear on the upper edge of the rim.

15. In a machine for making metal wheels, the combination with a supportfor the rim, of means for sustaining the spoke in operative relation tothe same, a rest in position to bear against the outer face of the rim,an abutment adapted to bear against the inner face of the rim, asustaining device on which the lower edge of the rim is adapted to rest,and a finger adapted to bear on the upper edge of the rim.

16. In a machine for making metal wheels, the combination of arim-support, means for sustaining the spoke in operative relation to therim, a rest adapted to bear against the outer face of the rim, and asustaining device on which the lower edge of the rim is adapted to rest,said sustaining device being carried by the rest.

17 In a machine for making metal wheels, the combination of ahub-support movable in the direction of the aXis of the spoke, means forsustaining the rim around the hub, means for holding the spokeinoperative relation to said parts, a movable header for the outer end ofthe spoke, a sliding cap-plate operatively connected with the header, arim-rest on the capplate, and links connecting'said cap-plateoperatively with the hub-support.

18. In a machine for making metal wheels, the combination with ahorizontal verticallymovable hub-holding frame, of a rim-support carriedby said frame, an actuating device for moving the frame vertically,vertical bars connected to the frame at one end of the same, verticallinks connected with the frame at its other end, and operativeconnections between the bars and links and the actuating device.

19. In a machine for making metal wheels, the combination with the framehaving a vertical standard formed with a vertical open guideway, of ahub-holding frame adapted to be moved in a direction longitudinally ofthe spoke, and formed with a guide-lug sliding in the guideway, meansfor moving said frame for sustaining the hub and rim in operativerelations to the spoke and means for fastening the spoke to the hub and20. In a machine for making metal wheels, the combination with ahorizontal verticallymovable hub-holding frame, of a rim-support carriedthereby, an actuating device for moving the frame vertically, and meansfor adustmg the ends of said frame independently and with relation tothe actuating mechanism.

21. In a machine for making metal wheels, the combination of twospoke-clamps adapted to act respectively at opposite ends of the spoke,and each comprising opposing jaws pivoted between their ends on parallelaxes and provided on one side of said axes with spoke-grasping surfaces,a longitudinally-extending rocking member formed on opposite sides withcam-surfaces adapted to engage the inner sides of the jaws of bothclamps, and adapted to close the jaws on the spoke, an actuatingcylinder and piston, and operative connections between the piston andsaid rocking member; whereby the rocking member serves to operate bothclamps in unison.

22. In a machine for making metal wheels, the combination with means forsupporting the hub and rim in operative relations, said supporting meansbeing movable in the direction of the axis of the spoke to be secured,of a spoke-clamp adapted to grasp the spoke adjacent the hub and actingto permit a movement of the spoke endwise toward the hub only, a secondspoke-clamp adapted to grasp the spoke adjacent the rim and acting topermit the spoke to be moved endwise, a heading device for the hub endof the spoke adapted to upset the spoke within the hub and against theholding action of the firstnamed clamp, a heading device for theopposite end of the spoke adapted when advanced toward the hub to upsetthe end of the spoke outside the rim, means controlled by the advance ofthis header for moving the rim and connected spoke and hub in thedirection of the axis of the spoke and with relation to the clamp, andmeans for forming a shoulder on the spoke at the inner face of the rimwhen the spoke is moved endwise.

23. In a machine for making metal wheels, the combination of a supportfor the hub and rim movable vertically and horizontally, a cylinder 13,a piston therein operatively connected with said support, spoke-clamps,a cylinder 79, a piston therein operatively connected with said clamps,a hub-header, a cylinder 41-, a piston therein operatively connectedwith the hub-header, a rim-header, a cylinder 58, a piston thereinoperatively connected with the rim-header, valves for the respectivecylinders controlling the admission to and exit of fluid under pressurefrom the same, a common operating means for said controlling-valves, andconnections between said operating means and the respective valves, saidvalves and connections being so formed and related that when the commonoperating means is actuated, cylinder 13 will be first opened to theexhaust, then pressure admitted to cylinder 79, then this cylinderopened to the exhaust, then pressure admitted to cylinder 58 and thiscylinder opened to the exhaust, then cylinder 79 opened to the exhaust,and finally pressure admitted to cylinder 13.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set. my hand, this 11th day of October,1904, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

EMIL EINFELDT,

Witnesses:

M. LoUIsE DODGE, ANDREW NEILSON.

